Van Halen
Feb 6, 2012
Van Halen has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, (1978). As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Van Halen is the 19th best-selling band/artist of all time with sales of over 56 million albums in the United States alone, and is one of five rock bands that have had two albums sell more than 10 million copies in the U.S.[3] In 1999, the RIAA certified their debut album diamond for ten million in U.S. sales.
In addition to being recognized for success, the band is known for the drama surrounding the exits of former members. The multiple exits of lead singers David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone were surrounded in controversy and mass press coverage, including numerous conflicting press statements between the former singers and the band. Following their 2004 concert tour the band was on a hiatus from the public until September 2007, when new bassist Wolfgang Van Halen's place was confirmed and Roth reunion rumors began to re-surface, both events coinciding with the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on March 12, 2007. After years of speculation, Van Halen began a tour with Roth across North America in 2007 and into 2008.
Van Halen entered the Henson Studio C with producer John Shanks on January 17, 2011. Shanks posted on his Twitter account that he was in the studio with the band and posted a picture of one of Eddie Van Halen's signature amps. The new album will be the first full length Van Halen album since 1998's Van Halen III and the first new music from the band since the three new songs from the 2004's "Best of Both Worlds" compilation. It will also be the first Van Halen album to feature Eddie's son, Wolfgang Van Halen, on the bass in place of Michael Anthony. This will also be the first album to feature Roth on vocals in 27 years, and the first new material with him in 15 years, since the two new songs with him on the Best of Volume I. It will also be the first recorded music from Roth since 2003's Diamond Dave. The new album A Different Kind of Truth is set to be released via Interscope Records on February 7th. The album features their newly released single "Tattoo" which is impacting Rock radio.